5 Things That Can Damage Your Nissan This Winter

January 4, 2018

Be sure to remain vigilant throughout the season and follow precautions to remain safe on in cold, snowy, and icy conditions.

Winter driving is careful driving. Protect your Nissan this winter by avoiding these five car mistakes and driving hazards. Be sure to remain vigilant throughout the season and follow precautions to remain safe on in cold, snowy, and icy conditions.

Warming Up the Car

A habit that many people have in the winter is going outside early to warm up the car before they head out on the road. It can be incredibly uncomfortable to drive in a freezing car, so this practice is a hard one for many people to break. However, if you warm up your car for too long, you can cause buildup on your spark plugs. It’s also a big waste of gas.

Neglecting Your Tires

Don’t forget to check your tires in the winter. If you’re still using summer tires, they probably won’t be as efficient as you need them to be in snowy and icy conditions. Furthermore, you’ve probably noticed an issue with tire pressure in the winter. About every 10 degrees that the temperature drops, the pressure in your tires will also drop. Therefore, be sure to be consistently mindful of the condition of your tires throughout the season.

Gas in the Tank

Moist air in empty gas tanks causes a lot of expensive problems, including freezing the tank itself and crystallizing, which can ultimately lead to ice building up in your fuel lines. Therefore, it’s important in the winter to keep your gas tank full to avoid these issues.

Hot Water for Windshields

A method for deicing your windshields that you should stay away from is pouring a bowl or pot of hot water over your car. The contrast in temperatures can cause your windshield to crack. If it doesn’t cause a crack itself, it will exacerbate any existing cracks or dings that you have on your windshield, causing them to expand and become a bigger issue. Using an ice scraper is the safest and most efficient method for removing ice from the windshield.

Speed and Overcorrecting

Be sure when driving, to reduce your speeds given the shorter reaction time and stopping distance that you have to work with on slippery and wet pavement. If you do find yourself slipping, be careful not to overcorrect, which will most likely cause your Nissan to spin out of control. React calmly and slowly steer your wheel in the direction that you’re sliding and tap the brake gently, rather than slamming your foot down.

Auto Stop Limited Inc. is happy to service your vehicle and make sure all your maintenance needs are properly addressed and resolved. Contact Auto Stop Limited Inc. online or give us a call at (410) 467-7600 to get your questions answered today. To get more vehicle maintenance tips, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.